Jail didn't end calls, deputies say

A "cyberstalker" is accused of harassing his ex-girlfriend, her family and his baby.

By JAMAL THALJI
Published June 26, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - The threats came by cell phone and by computer, contained in voice, e-mail and text messages, authorities say.

And they came by the hundreds.

Technology was the weapon that authorities say Michael William Chiello Jr. used to constantly stalk, harass, intimidate, scare and threaten the mother of his child, her parents - even his baby girl.

"He hopes my 8-month-old daughter and myself die on Mother's Day, " the mother, Tanya McKenney, wrote a judge in May. "He wants to see my baby dead."

Pasco sheriff's deputies arrested Chiello at 10:31 a.m. Sunday. But even that couldn't stop him.

"I want to talk to Tanya and my daughter now, " Chiello demanded hours later, according to a sheriff's report.

He was calling from the Pasco County jail.

Chiello was arrested on charges of aggravated domestic stalking, domestic stalking and three counts of violating a protective order.

That could be just the start. The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office and the Pasco County Sheriff's Office are investigating the 28-year-old Palm Bay man deputies labeled a "cyberstalker." More charges could be filed against Chiello, who is being held in lieu of $70, 000 bail.

"There are a number of other allegations out there that he didn't just stop at these victims, " said sheriff's spokesman Doug Tobin.

The alleged victims are Tanya McKenney, 21; daughter Alicia Michele, now 11 months old; and McKenney's mother, Trudy Pruitt, 59; and father, Andrew Pruitt, 64.

The family declined to comment Monday. But their ordeal is detailed in court documents and sheriff's reports that start May 13.

"I can see you ... watch out, " read one of Chiello's alleged threats sent to McKenney via text message.

He often said he was "coming for her, " according to reports, and told her "you know I have access to a gun."

The report said Chiello often boasted that he was "around the corner" or "on the way."

He filled McKenney's cell phone with voice and text messages, the reports said, and "hacked" into her password-protected voice mail. Chiello even accessed a voice mail that a deputy left for McKenney on her own cell phone, a report said, then played it back for her.

And Chiello threatened a friend of hers, Michael Griebler, according to reports, using the victim's MySpace.com page and 300 calls on June 13.

Authorities also say Chiello left threats on the Pruitts' phone, where McKenney and her daughter are staying.

"It is obvious that (Tanya), Trudy and Andrew are in fear for their lives as well as the life of Alicia, " a deputy wrote.

Chiello was relentless, the report said, even when deputies confronted him about the threats and a protective order barring him from any contact.

"Michael advised he was aware that he was violating the injunction, " a deputy wrote, "but he wanted to talk to Tanya."

Since the start of the investigation in May, deputies have collected more than 50 pages of e-mails and MySpace messages, more than 50 recorded voice mails and photos of more than 100 text messages Chiello sent to his ex-girlfriend and her family.

When Chiello called the family from the jail Sunday, the reports said, they called authorities immediately and a detention deputy confronted Chiello.

Deputies told Chiello his only contact with her would be a courtroom.

"There is a pattern of harassment, cyberstalking, and believed credible threats, " a deputy wrote, "and there (are) ... no signs of stopping."

Well, there was one. Chiello called the mother and offered to get "out of her life, " the reports said.

All she had to do was pay him $10, 000.

Times researcher Carolyn Edds contributed to this report. Jamal Thalji can be reached at thalji@sptimes.com or (727) 869-6236.

[Last modified June 25, 2007, 22:46:50]